Photoelectric sorting device



April 8, 1952 c. SMITH PHOTOELECTRIC SORTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 12, 1947 April 8, 1952 c. SMITH 2,592,202

PHOTOELECTRIC SORTING DEVICE y Filed Sept. 12, 1947 F\Sheets-Sheet 2 E SW April 8, 1952 c..sM1TH 2,592,202

PHOTOELECTRIC soRTING DEVICE Filed sept. 12, 1947 5 sheets-sheet s rlo megs April 8, 1952 c. SMITH 2,592,202

PHOTOELECTRIC SORTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 12, 194'? 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Sept. 12, 1947 Patented Apr. 8, 1952 PHOTOELECTRIC SORTING DEVICE Clyde Smith, Hopkinsville, Ky.,

drcssograph-Multigraph Corporation,

assigner to Ad- Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 12, 1947, Serial No. 773,607

3 Claims.

This invention relates to sorting machines and more particularly to sheet-sorting machines of the type wherein data representations carried by the sheets to be sorted are sensed while the sheets are stationary in the machine and the sheets are then sorted by the machine according to those representations.

In sorting machines of the type adapted to sort sheets such as, for example, checks, cards and the like, it is common practice to control the sorting operations of the machine according to data representations carried by the sheet to be sorted, and which data representations are sensed by the machine. rIhese data representations, carried by the sheets, may be any one of several types such as, for example, holes punched in the sheet which have certain data representing characteristics and which may be sensed by such devices as feelers embodied in the machine, or light reective areas having certain data representing characte'ristics and which may be sensed by such devices as photoelectric devices embodied in the machine. Whichever type of data representations are used, it will be apparent that it is essential that these representations be accurately positioned in the machine when a sensingv operation is to be performed thereon, and it is a primary object of my invention to insure that such data representations, carried by a sheet to be sorted in a sorting machine, are accurately positioned in the machine when a data-sensing operation is performed thereon.

Al further object of my invention is to enable the position of a sheet in a sorting machine to be sensed by phctoelectric means prior to the performance of a data-sensing operation thereon.

An object ancillary to the foregoing is to enable the performance or non-performance of a sensing operation on the data representations carried by such a sheet to be controlled by photoelectric means according to whether the sheet was previously determined by the photoelectric means to be in proper or improper position.

In the operation oi sorting machines of the aforesaid type, it is desirable that, if the data representations carried by a sheet to be sorted are in proper position in the machine, the machine be permitted to operate in a normal manner and proceed to sense and properly sort the check. However, if, on the other hand, the data representations carried by a sheet are not in proper position in the machine it is desirable that normal operation of the machine be interrupted so that improper sorting of the sheet will not be unintentionally effected. In this connection it is an object of my invention to enable the position of a sheet in a sorting machine to be sensed by photoelectric means and the normal sorting operation of the machine to be controlled by the photoelectric means in accordance with whether the sheet is, or is not, properly positioned in the machine.

More specically, it is an object of my invention to enable proper or improper positioning of two spaced locating areas on a sheet in a machine of the aforesaid type to be sensed by photoelectric means and: if the sheet so sensed is in proper position, to permit the normal operation of the machine to continue with subsequent sorting of the sheet; if both of the locating areas are improperly positioned, to automatically stop further sorting operation of the machine until the sheet is manually removed therefrom; and if only one of the locating areas is properly positioned, to automatically eiiect a special feeding operation whereby the sheet is fed into a special collecting hopper where it may be visually inspected.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following descripton and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have -contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary top plan view of a sorting machine embodying the principles of myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the face of a sheet on which the locating areas are represented in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 in Fig. l;

3 Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 3 9 in Fig. 1

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line l-lin Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram showing certain aspects of my invention.

General description in the form shown for disclosure in the drawings, my invention is embodied in sorting apparatus comprising a sorting machine having a frame 22 which affords a table-top T supported by legs 24. A magazine M is mounted on one end portion of the table-top T adjacent to one end portion of, and in effect forms an extension of, a sheet guideway G.

In the operation of my novel machine, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, sheets C, such as, for example, checks or the like, which are to be sorted by the machine, are stacked, face up, in the magazine M and are fed sequentially by a sheet feeder Fl from the bottom of the magazine M along the guideway G into sensing position S, where data representations RD and positionally related position-indicating indicia or marks LD and TD are sensed by photoelectric means P, and are then either held in this position, fed through normal sorting channels by a second sheet feeder F2, or fed through a special sorting channel by the feed mechanism F2, depending on what position each sheet occupies as determined by the photoelectric means P. Such photoelectric means are of course sensitive to varying light intensities reflected from the sensed areas of the sheet C, and insofar as the position-indicating marks LD and TD are concerned, it will be evident that the marks need only be of a contrasting relation with adjacent portions of the sheet. In the present instance such marks are made of a higher reflective value so as to thereby simplify the electrical circuits as will hereinafter appear.

Specific description As hereinbefore stated, the sorting machine 20 shown in the accompanying drawings comprises the supporting frame 22 which embodies a tabletop T supported by the legs 24. The sheet guideway G comprises the usual baseplate 26 with two upstanding side rails 28 and 29 and two flanges 3l and 32 projecting inwardly from the respective side rails 28 and 29 in spaced relation tothe base plate 26, Figs. 1 and 6.

The magazine M comprises four substantially L-shaped posts 35, 36, 31 and 38 mounted on the side rails 28 and 29 of the sheet guideway G and secured thereto by any suitable means such as bolts 42- extending through brackets 46. A plurality of sheets C, such as, for example, bank checks, may be stacked in the magazine M within the connes of the posts S55- 38, and a weighted follower 44 may be placed on the stack to thereby press the sheets G toward the bottom of the magazine. The sheet feeder FI which as previously discussed, is adapted to sequentially feed the sheets C from the bottom of the magazine M into sensing position S in the guideway G, includes a slide 46, Figs. l, 3 and 5, reciprocally mounted in a slot 4'! formed in one end of the table-top T and the guideway G. A plate 4S, having a thickness slightlyV less than the thickness of a sheet C, is mounted on the top surface of the slide 46 by any suitable means such as a screw 49. The slide 46v is attached to a bell crank 5|, Figs. ll and 5, by a pin and slot connection, a pin 53 carried by the slide 46 extending through a slot 55 formed in one arm 51 of the bell crank 5l. The bell crank 5I is pivotally mounted on a stud 6| carried by the table-top T, and the other arm 63 thereof is attached to a block 64 by a pin and slot connection, a pin 65, carried by the block 64, extending downwardly through a slot 65a formed in the arm 63 of the bell crank 6|. The block 64 is slidably mounted in suitable supporting tracks 59 within a slot Se formed in the table-top T, and the upper end portion thereof is attached to one end portion of a link 66. The other end portion of the link 66 is pivotally attached to a crank 68 fast on a cam shaft 'l0 rotatably mounted in brackets il in a housing H on the upper surface of the table-top T. A motor T3, which is in constant operation during the normal operation of my novel machine 20, is mounted in the housing H and is connected to the cam shaft 'l0 through suitable reduction gearing 12.

During the normal operation of my machine 20, the motor 13, through the reduction gearing 12, drives the cam shaft 'I6 through one complete revolution during each sheet-sorting operation of the machine. It will be apparent that upon each revolution of the cam shaft 16, the crank 66, through the bell crank 5I and associated mechanism, will cause the slide 46 and the plate 48 to move through one complete reciprocation from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, to the position shown in broken lines therein and back again. in the forward stroke of the slide 46 and the plate 48, that is, from the solid line position to the broken line position shown in Fig. 1, the plate 43 engages the rear edge of the lowermost sheet C in the magazine M and pushes it ahead of it into the guideway G, a stop finger 'I4 being effective to stop the sheet in sensing position S, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter'. On the return stroke of the slide 46 and the plate 48, the plate 48 slides under the succeeding lowermost sheet C in the magazine M without effecting lateral movement of the latter. When the slide 46 and the sheet 48 have returned to their original position, just outside the magazine M, the next succeeding sheet S is pressed down by the other sheets, and the weighted follower, stacked thereon, into position to be engaged by the plate 48 and to be fed thereby into the guideway G during the next reciprocation of the plate 48.

The stop finger 14 is, in the present instance, movable between an ineffective upper position and an effective lower position, and when it is in its lower position it lies in the path of the leading edge of sheets moving through the guideway G, the finger being moved into sheet-stopping position during the first portion of each revolution of the cam shaft 'l0 and remaining there to thereby restrain the sheets against movement from the sensing position S until a predetermined time, later in the cycle of operation, when it is raised out of the path of the sheet to permit the sheet to be fed to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1 in the guideway G. The nger 14 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 76, mounted on the upper surface of the table-top T, and is constantly urged by a torsion spring i8, Fig. 8, toward lowered or sheet-stopping position. A roller 8.0 is carried by the finger i4 and is in engagement with a cam 82 fast to the cam shaft i6. The cam 82 has such a configuration, and is so positioned on the shaft 10, that during each rotation of the cam shaft 10, it holds the stop finger 14 in raised position, out of engagement with the leading edge of the sheets C, during the time when sheet is to be fed to the left from the sensing position S, and permits the finger 14 to be lowered into sheet-engaging position, and held therein, by the spring 18 when a sheet C is to be held in the sensing position.

The sheet feeder F2, by which the sheets C may be fed to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, from the sensing position S, comprises a motor 85 having a drive shaft 86 on which is secured a roller 81. One end of the motor 85 is pivotally supported by a rod 88 from a bracket 89 carried by the table-top T, Figs. 1 and 6. The other end of the motor B5 has a bracket 9| formed thereon which is secured to the upper end portion of a rod 93, which extends downwardly through an opening in the table top T, and the lower end portion of which is adjustably secured in a bushing 91 on the arm 99 of a rocker |0| pivotally mounted on a bracket |03 carried by the frame 22.

The rocker includes an arm |05 to which one end of a spring |01 is connected, the other end of the spring being suitably anchored on the frame 2'2. The spring |01 normally urges the arm |05 upwardly against a stop |09 carried by the frame 22 and when the arm |05 is held in this position, the rod 93 rocks the motor 85 to a lowered position, as shown in Fig. 6, so that the feed roller 81 raised out of sheet engaging position.

Two solenoids and ||2 are mounted on a block I4 carried by the frame 22, and the armatures thereof are pivotally connected to end portions of links ||6 and ||1, respectively. The other end portions of the links ||6 and ||1 are connected by pin and slot connections to one end portion of the arm |05 of the rocker |0|, two pins ||9 and |2|, carried by the arm |05, being engaged in two slots |23 and |25, respectively, formed in the links and ||1. Either of the solenoids or |2 is effective upon energization thereof to rotate the rocker |0| 1n a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, to thereby move the rod 93 upwardly and thereby rock the motor 85 about its pivot rod 88 and move the sheet feed roller 81 down into sheet engaging position. The motor 85 is constantly operating during operation of the machine 20 and, therefore, the sheet feed roller 81, when it is moved into sheet engaging position, is effective to feed a sheet positioned in sensing position S to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, if the stop finger 14 is in raised position. The solenoids and ||2 are controlled in such a manner by mechanism embodied in my machine that they are energized and de-energized in timed relation to the other operations of the machine, as will be discussed in greater detail presently.

In the present embodiment of my invention the machine 20, shown in the drawings, is of the type adapted to sort bank checks C according to the bank on which they were drawn. On checks of the character adapted to be sorted by this machine, an individual coded marking is assigned to each bank and this marking is carried by each check blank issued by the respective bank. Thus, for example, in Figs. 1 and 2 a check blank VC of the ABC bank is shown and the coded marking for this bank is shown as including the number 4300 printed in the upper right hand corner of the face of the check. In the present dots RD positioned directly below the respective numerals of the number 4300 and formed as by printing in ink which may be black or of any other color affording effective according to a contrast with the color of the paper of which the check is made. The dots RD are formed in accordance with any predetermined code, so that when the check C is in sensing position S in the machine 20, the code marking, namely, the marking 4300 may be sensed by photo-electric means (not shown) in a manner well known to the art, and the check thereupon be sorted into collecting means for checks of this bank by suitable sorting means. In the present instance the code utilized in imparting the desired numerical significance to the dots RD is based on the size of such dots, but it will be recognized that insofar as the present invention is concerned, the code might be positional and of a single or multiple element type, or it might well be attained in whole or in part by the use of different colors in the dots RD. The sorting means, per se, does not form any part of my invention and, therefore, is not shown in the drawings and will not be discussed herein except insofar as it is pertinent to an understanding of my invention.

It will be seen that when, as here, sensing of the coded marking is dependent on the reading of the amount of light reected by the marking, it is of primary importance that the coded marking be accurately disposed in proper position in the machine when such a data-sensing operation is performed, and a primary aspect of my invention is the determination, by a preliminary sensing, that such proper positioning of a sheet has been effected and, if not, to interrupt the normal sorting operation of the machine.

For effecting this preliminary sensing, I provide a projector unit |30, Fig. 6, carried by a bracket |32 mounted on the table-top T, and adapted to project individual beams of light at an oblique angle onto two locating dots printed on the sheets C in alignment, or in some other predetermined relationship, with respect to the data representing dots RD. As herein shown, one of these dots, namely, the dot LD is in leading position relative to the dots RD during the movement of the sheets C through the machine 20, and the other dot, namely, the dot TD is in trailing position relative to the dots RD. Two photoelectric cells |34 and |35 are carried by a bracket |31 vmounted on the table-top T, and are-adapted to receive rays of light reflected by the locating dots LD and TD, respectively, from the projector |30, when a sheet C of the aforementioned type is properly positioned in sensing position S.

The photoelectric cells |34 and |35 are connected in the usual manner by conductors |39 to two amplifiers |4| and |42, respectively, and the amplifiers IM and |42 are in turn connected by conductors |44 to two multi-contact relays |46 and |41, respectively. Two stationary contac-ts |50 and i5! of the relays |45 and |41, respectively, are connected together by a conductor |53 and are adapted to engage two normally-open movable contacts |55 and |56, respectively, when the relays |45 and |41 are energized. The movable contact |55 is connected to ground by a conductor |58, and the other movable contact |55 is connected by a conductor |60 to one terminal of a slow-to-energize relay |62, the other terminal of which is connected to one terminal of a battery |63 by a conductor |64, the other terminal of the battery |63 being grounded at |65. The amplifiers |4|, and |42, the relays |46 and |41 andthe relay |62 may be mounted in a housing B positioned on the upper surface of the table-top T.

The relay |62 has a movable contact |66 and a fixed contact |61., the movable contact |66 being normally out of engagement with a fixed contact |61, and being connected to ground by a suitable conductor |69. The fixed Contact |61 is connected by a conductor |1| to the windings of the solenoid which are connected to one ter- .minal of a battery |12 by a conductor |13, the

other terminal of the battery |12 being grounded at |14.

Therefore, it will be seen that when a sheet C, having the two locating dots LD and TD properly disposed thereon, is properly located in sensing position S in the sorting. machine 20, and the projector |30 is energized, the intensity of the light reflected by the locating dots is effective through the photoelectric cells |34 and |35 and the ampliiiers |4| and |42 to energize the relays |46 and |41 and thereby close the movable contacts |55 and |56 against the fixed contacts |50 and |5I, respectively, and thereby complete a. circuit through the slow-to-energize relay |62. The slow-to-energize relay being energized, after a slight delay, during which the coded markings are sensed by photoelectric means (not shown), causes the movable contact |66 to close on the xed contact |61 to therebyu complete a circuit from battery through the solenoid to ground and thereby energize the solenoid Energization of the solenoid causes it to pull they rocker down to thereby pvot the motor 85 upwardly so that the roller 81 moves into sheet feeding, engagement with the sheet C positioned in the sensing position S. The movement of the roller 81 into feeding engagement with the sheet C takes place at a time when the stop finger 14 is out of sheet engaging position, as will be discussed in greater detail presently, so thatv the roller 81 upon contact with the sheet C is eiiective to feed the sheet to the left, as viewed in Fig. l, from sensing position S into the sorting means (not shown). As previously discussed, the motor 85, and, therefore, the roller 81, are in constant operation during the operation of my machine 20, so that when the roller 81 contacts the sheet C the resultant feeding of the sheet is quickly effected.

A cam |15, made of suitable insulating material such as, for example, impregnated fabric, is fast on the` cam shaft and is in engagement with a pin |16, Figs. l, l0 and 11, carried by the contact member |18 of a normally closed switch |80 mounted in the housing H. As is best seen in Fig. l1, the switch |80 is connected in series with the projector |30, one contact member |02 of the switch |80 being connected by a wire |94 to one side of the projector |30, and the other contact member |18 of the switch |80 being connected by wires |82 and |83 to one contact |84 of a normally closed feeler switch |86, which Will be discussed in greater detail presently, the other contact |88 of which is connected by a wire |89 to one side of a master switch MS, the other side of which is connected to a power line |90. The other side of the projector I 30 is connected to a power line |96 to complete the circuit therethrough.

The cam is of such configuration, and is so positioned on the cam shaft 10, that it holds the contact |18, through thepin |16, out'of engagement with the contact |92 throughout all portions of each revolution of the camshaft 10 except that portion wherein a sheet C is or should be, disposed in sensing position S in the machine 20 and the code markings CM and the locating dots LD and TD are to be sensed, as will be discussed hereinafter.

It will be remembered that when a sheet C, having the two locating dots LD and TD, is properly located in sensing position S in the machine 20 and a sensing operation is performed' thereon. upon illumination of the projector |30, the two locating dots LD and TD are sensed by the photoelectric means and the roller 81 is subsequently lowered into sheet feeding position to thereupon cause the sheetl C to be fed from sensing position, after which another sheet C is fed into sensing position S, during the next cycle of operation, and the sensing operation is repeated on the new sheet. This sensing and subsequent feedingv operation is repeated sequentially for all the sheets in the magazine M, so long as eachof the sheets sensed has the two locating dots LD and TD, and the sheets are properly located in sensing position S in the machine 20 Where the preliminary sensing operation is performed thereon. However, it will be apparent that if, during one of these cycles of operation, the sheet sensed does not have the two locating dots LD and TD, or, if the sheet does have the dots but they are obscured, or the sheet is improperly positioned in the machine, light will not be reiiected into the photoelectric cells |34 and |35 to activate these cells when the projector |30 is energized and, therefore, neither of the relays |46 or |41 Will be energized so the circuit to the solenoid will remain open. This results in the solenoid remaining unenergized so that the roller 81 is not pulled down into sheet-feeding engagement, and, therefore, the sheet C will not be fed to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, into the sorting mechanism but will remain stationary in the sensing position S. It will be seen that if the machine 20 was permitted to continue normal operation when this condition existed, the feeding means F1, upon the next rotation of the crank 68, dur- 4 ing the next cycle of operation, would eject another sheet C from the magazine M toward sensing position S which would cause thissecond sheet to be fed onto the sheet stil1 remaining, in sensing position and would cause an undesirable condition. To prevent this from occurring I- provide the feeler switch |86 carried by a feeler finger 200 pivotally mounted on a bracket 202 mounted on the table-top-T. A downwardly extending pin 204 is carried by the contact member |84 of the feeler switch |86, and the feeler finger 200 supports the switch |86 in such a manner that the pin204 is in axia1 alignment with two openings 206 and 201 formed in the guideway G and the table-top T, respectively, Fig. 9, which openings are covered by the trailing edge portion of a sheet C when the sheet is disposed" in sensing position S in the machine 20. A torsion spring 209 urges the feeler ringer 200 in. a direction to move the pin 204 toward the openings 206 and 201, and a-roller 2||y rotatably mounted on the finger 200 is in engagement withv a cam 2 |3 which is fast on the cam shaft 10. The con'- guration of the cam 2|3 is such, and the cam is so positioned on the shaft`10, that duringimost of each cycle of operation the cam 2|3 through its engagement with the rollerv 2 on the. finger 288, holds the pin 264 in raised position above the-guideway G, and it is only during the last portion of each cycle of operation, at which time the sheet feeding operation from sensing position S has normally taken place, that the roller 2| I rides up into the depression 2 |5 in the periphery of the cam 2|3 and permits the switch |86 and the pin 204 to be moved downwardly by the spring 208 in a feeling operation. If, when the pin 204 is moved down in a feeling operation, the sheet or check D, sensed earlier in the cycle, has been fed out of sensing position S by the roller 81, as is normally true, the pin 204 enters the holes 206 and 201 without opening the switch |86,

the roller 2|I rides back out of the depressionV 2 I5, the pin 204 and the feeler linger 200 is rocked back to their normal position, and the cycle of operation is completed. However, if, as previously discussed, a sheet C still occupies the sensing position S when the feeling operation of the pin 204 is instituted, the trailing end portion of the sheet is positioned over the openings 206 and 201 so that when the pin 204 is lowered it cannot enter the openings 206 and 201 but, instead, engages the sheet C so positioned and thereby forces the Contact member |84 upwardly away from the contact member |86 to thereby open the circuit from the power line |90 through the switch |86, wire |83, motor 13 and power line |06, Fig. 11, to thereby stop the motor 13 and prevent further rotation of the cam shaft so that the sheet feeding means F1, is automatically prevented from ejecting more sheets C from the magazine M. To restore the machine to operation, the operator may manually remove the offending sheet from sensing position in the machine 20 which will permit the pin 204 to drop down into the openings 206 and 201 so that the switch |86 will again close and operation of the motor M, and, therefore, of the machine 20 will be resumed. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the machine 20 is operating normally, with each of the sheets C, which are fed from the magazine M, having the proper locating dots LD and TD and being properly positioned in sensing position S during the sensing portion, of each cycle of operation, the sheets will be sequentially fed from the magazine M through the sensing position S and on into the sorting mechanism. Also it will be seen that if one of' the sheets C which reaches the sensing position S does not have the proper locating dots LD and TD, or if it is not properly located in the sensing position S so that neither of the locating dots are in proper registration with the photoelectric cells |34 and |35, the sheet will remain in sensing position so that when the feeler switch |86 is moved through a feeling operation, at the close of that particular cycle of operation the pin 204 will engage the oiending sheet C and the switch |86 will thereby be opened and further operation of the machine will be prevented.

Thus it will be seen that my machine will continue to operate normally if both locating dots LD and TD are sensed by the photoelectric cells |34 and |35 during each cycle of operation, and will be automatically stopped if neither of the locating dots LD or TD are sensed by the photoelectric cells |34 and |35 during any particular cycle of operation. However, in addition to these two conditions, it is also desirable that if, when a sheet C is sensed during a cycle of operation, the photoelectric cells |34 and |35 sense only one of the locating dots LD or TD and not the other, the particular sheet so sensed be made readily available for visual inspection without interrupting the further operation of the lll machine, and, therefore, I have provided novel means whereby such a sheet will be fed by the feed roller 81 at the usual time in the cycle of operation but, instead of being fed to the sorting mechanism will be ed into a special hopper from which it may be readily withdrawn by the operator and visually inspected.

For the purpose of effecting this special operation of my novel machine, I provide a second set of contacts for the relays |46 and |41, these contacts comprising two stationary contacts 2|1 and 2|8 associated with the relay |46 and having a movable contact 220 positioned therebetween, and two stationary contacts 223 and 224 associated with the relay |41 and having a movable contact 226 positioned therebetween. The movable contacts 220 and 226 are normally closed on the contacts 2|8 and 224, respectively, and are adapted to be moved from engagement with the contacts 2|8 and 224 into engagement with the contacts 2|1 and 223 upon energization of the relays |46 and |41, respectively.

In my novel machine, the stationary contact 2|1 is connected in series with the stationary Contact 224 by a wire 228; the stationary contact 2I8 is connected in series with the stationary contact 223 by a wire 236; the movable contact 226 is connected to ground by a wire 232; and the movable Contact 220 is connected in series with the windings of the solenoid I2 and a solenoid ||2 and a solenoid 235 by wires 231, 236 and 240, which solenoids are connected in parallel with each other and are connected to battery by wires 242 and 243, respectively. lThe wire 242 is connected to one terminal of a battery 242B, the other terminal of which is grounded at 242G. Similarly, the wire 243 is connected to one terminal of a battery 243B-, the other terminal of which is grounded at 243G. Hence it will be seen that when the two relays |46 and |41 are either both energized, or both unenergized, no circuit is completed from battery through either of the solenoids I|2 or 235, but when either one, but not the other, of the relays I46 and |41 is energized a circuit is completed from battery through both of the solenoids |I2 and 235. Thus, for example, if the relay |46 is energized, but the relay |41 is not, the contact 220 is moved into engagement with the stationary contact 2|1 so that circuit is completed from battery through the wires 242 and 243 to the solenoids ||2 and 235, respectively, through the wires 239 and 240, respectively, to the wire 231, and from the wire 231 through the movable contact 220, the stationary contact 2|1, the wire 223, the stationary contact 224, the movable Contact 226, the wire 232 and back through ground to battery. If, on the other hand, the relay |41 is energized but the other relay |46 is not, the movable contact 226 is pulled into engagement with the stationary contact 223 while the movable contact 220 remains in engagement with the stationary contact '2 8 and this completes a circuit from battery through the wires 242 and 243 to the solenoids I I2 and 235, respectively, from the solenoids ||2 and 235 through the wires 239 and 243, respectively, to the wire 231, and from the wire 231 through the movable Contact 220, the stationary contact 2|8, the wire 230, the stationary contact 223, the movable contact 226, the wire 232 and through ground back to battery. Energization of the solenoids ||2 and 235 in this manner, by the energization of either of the relays |46 or |41, is effective to bring kabout a special feedll ing of the particular sheet C causing such energization, as will be discussed presently.

The solenoid 235, Figs. '1 and 1l, is mounted on a suitable block 241 carried by the frame 22, and the plunger o f the solenoid 235 is pivotally connected to one end portion of a. lever 249 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 250y also carried by the frame 22. The other end portion of the lever 249 is connected by a link 252 to one end portion of a gate 254 which forms an integral part of the guideway G, Figs. 1, 3 and 7, and the other end portion of which is attached to the side rails 28 and 29 of the guideway G by hinges 256. It will be apparent that upon energization of the solenoid 235 the lever 249 will be rocked thereby in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, to thereby raise the link 252 and swing the gate 254 upwardly on its hinges 256, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. A spring 258 having one end attached to the lever 249 and the other arm attached to the bracket 258 is effective to swing the lever back to normal position and thus lower the gate 256 upon deenergization of the solenoid 235. The table-top T is cut away beneath the gate 254 to form an opening 260, Fig. 3, and the upper end portion of an inclined chute 262 is attached to the lower surface of the table-top T in communication with the opening 262, the other end portion of the chute extending through the machine 20 and communicating with a conveniently located special hopper, not shown.

That portion of the guideway G which forms the gate 254 lies just ahead, or, in other words, to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, of the feed roller 81. Therefore, it will be seen that if the feed roller 81 is lowered into feeding engagement with a sheet C, in sensing position S, when the gate 254 is in raised position, the sheet will be fed by the roller down through the opening 265 and, the chute 262 into the special hopper, and this constitutes the speci-al feeding operation effected in my novel machine when one, but not the other, locating dot LD or TD is sensed during a machine operation. The solenoid |2 is provided for the purpose of effecting this feeding ope eration, this solenoid being energized by the sensing of one locating dot and not the other, as previously described, and when so energized acting in the same manner as previously set forth in detail with respect to solenoid rotating the rocker arm and thereby lowering the roller 81 into feeding engagement with the sheet C located in sensing position and thereby effecting the special feeding of this sheet, whereby the sheet or check is deposited in the special hopper from which it may be withdrawn by the operator and visually inspected.

Operationy In the operation of my invention as embodied in the novel machine shown in the accompanying drawings, a supply of sheets or checks C may be stacked, face up, in the magazine M and the weighted follower 44 placed thereon to press them downwardly therein. The master switch MS, Figs. 1 and 11, may then be closed manually to initiate operation of the machine.

Closing of the master switch MS causes the motor M to be energized to thereby drive the cam shaft and rotate the crank 68 and the cams 82, and 2 I3.

Upon initiation of the rotation of the cam shaft 1-the crank 68 starts to drive the sheet feeder F1 through a sheet ejecting operation, and early in the cycle of operation the cam 82 is 'rotated suiiiciently to permit the stop finger 14 to be lowered by the spring 18 into sheet engaging position so that the sheet ejected from the magazine M by the sheet feeder F1 will be stopped by the finger 14 in the sensing position S upon completion of the ejecting movement of the sheet feeder F1 at the completion of the rst half of the rotation of the cam shaft 15 and, therefore, of the crank 63.

During the first half of the Cycle of rotation of the cam shaft 16 the larger portion of the cam |15, Figs. l and 10, is engaged with the pin |16 on the switch |88 and, therefore, holds the switch open. However, shortly after the first half of the cycle of rotation of the cam shaft 10, the lowermost sheet C having been fed from the magazine M into sensing position S Where it is stopped by the nger 143, and the sheet feeder F1 having started its return stroke, the smaller portion of the cam |15 moves into engagement with the pin |16, thereby permitting the switch to be closed andthe projector |30 to be energized. Energization of the projector |30 causes a beam of light to be cast from the projector |30 onto the position in the machine where the locating dots LD and TD vand the code markings RD should be located. If the locating dots and code markings are properly present on the sheet C, and the sheet is properly located in the sensing position S, the intensity of the light reflected from the locating dots LD and TD is effective to energize the photoelectric cells |34 and |35 which in turn, through the amplifiers |4| and |42, energize the relays |46 and |41 to close the movable contacts |55 and |56 on the stationary contacts |56 and |5|, respectively, to thereby close the circuit from battery, through the wire |54, the windings of the slow-to-energize relay |62, the wire |68, the movable contact |55, the stationary contact |50, the wire |53, the stationary contact |5|, the movable contact |56, the wire |58 and back through ground to battery, to thereby energize the slow-to-energize relay. During the delay between the closing of the circuit to the slowto-energize relay |62 and the energization thereof, the code markings RD are sensed by photoelectric means, not shown, to thereby operate the sorting means in a manner well known to the art, so that when the sheet is fed from sensing position S by the roller 81 the sorting means will be effective to channel it into the proper place corresponding to the particular code markings RD. The specific photoelectric means used for sensing the code markings RD, and the specific sorting means used with my machine do not form a part of my invention, my invention being primarily concerned with determining whether a proper check is suitably disposed in sensing position during a sensing operation and if such a check is so disposed to permit the check to then be fed to the sorting means and if not then to prevent the check from being so fed. Therefore, the specific sorting means used with my machine, and the specic photoelectric means used for sensing the data-representing code markings RD are not shown, it being suflcient for a clear understanding of my invention to state that any one of several types of sorting means which are well known to the art may be usedy as may any one of several types of datasensing photoelectric means which are also well known to the art.

If, as has been hereinbefore discussed, the sheet C which is sensed has the proper locating dots and they have been properly positioned in sensing position so that the sloW-to-energize relay |62 is energized, the energization of the relay |62 causes the movable contact |66 thereof to close on the stationary contact |61 to .thereby complete a circuit from battery, through the wire |13, the solenoid ||I, the wire |1|, the stationary contact |61, the movable contact |63, the wire |69, and through ground back to battery to thereby energize the solenoid Energization of the solenoid I causes the rocker to be rotated to thereby lower the roller 81 on the constantly driven motor 35 into engagement with the sheet C and, the stop nger 14 having again been raised by the cam 82, to thereby feed the sheet to the left, as viewed in Fig. l, in the guideway from the sensing position S into the above mentioned sorting means. Shortly after the sheet C has been fed from the sensing position S, the feeler iinger 200 is oscillated by the cam 2|3 and the spring 209 through a feeling operation, during which, the sheet C not remaining in sensing position S, the pin 204 idly moves into and out of the openings 206 and 201 without opening the switch |86, so the one cycle of operation of the machine is completed Without interruption and the next cycle of operation is thereupon initiated wherein the next sheet C is fed from the magazine M into the machine where it is acted upon in a similar manner, and this is sequentially repeated for each of the sheets C in the magazine so long as each sheet has the proper locating dots LD and TD and is properly located in sensing position S when a sensing operation is performed. l

However, if a check, not having the locating dots LD and TD is fed into sensing position, or, if a check having the proper locating dots is not properly disposed in sensing position, so that neither of the photoelectric cells |34 and |35 are energized by reflected light from the projector |30, when the projector is energized, the relays |46 and |41 will no t be energized and the circuit through the slow-to-energize relay |52 is not completed so that the solenoid will not be energized, and, therefore, the feed roller 81 will not be lowered into sheet engaging position and the sheet C disposed at that time in the sensing position S, will remain in such position at the close of the cycle of operation. When this happens, the pin 204 carried by the feeler switch |86, will engage the offending sheet when, during the closing portion of the cycle of operation, the feeler finger 200 is moved through a feeling operation. Engagement of the pin 204 with the sheet C causes the switch |86 to be opened and thereby opens the circuit from the power lines |90 and |96 through the motor M, and causes the machine to automatically stop. When this occurs the operator can manually remove the offending sheet from the machine which will automatically permit the switch |86 to close and the motor M to resume operation.

In addition to the two above discussed operations, my machine is adapted to perform a third operation when either one, but not the other, of the locating dots LD and TD on a sheet C is sensed by the photoelectric cells |34 and |35. This third operation comprises feeding the particular check through special channels into a special hopper, from which hopper the check may be readily withdrawn and visually inspected.

In connection with this third operation it will be noted that the sensing of one locating dot or the other is effective to energize only one or the of the relays |46 and |41 which is ineffective to close the circuit through the slow-to-energize relay |62 and, therefore, the solenoid |l| remains unenergized. However, energization of one or the other of the relays |46 and |41 is effective to close the respective movable contacts 220 or 226 on the associated stationary contacts 2|1 or 223, respectively, and thereby ground the wire 231 either through the movable contact 220, the stationary contact 2 |1, the wire 228, the stationary contact 224, the movable contact 226 and the Wire 232, or through the movable contact 229, the stationary contact 2|8, the wire 230, the stationary contact 223, the movable contact V226, and the Wire 232. Grounding of the Wire 231 through either of these paths is, as best seen in Fig. 1l, effective to complete the circuits from battery through the wires 242 and 243, respectively, the solenoid ||2 and 235, respectively, and the wires 239 and 240, respectively, to the wire 231 and thus back through ground to battery, to thereby energize the solenoids |2 and 235.

The energization of the solenoid 235 is effective, through the arm 249 and the link 252, to raise the gate 254 into the position shown in Fig. 3, and the energization of the solenoid ||2 is effective, through the rocker 10| and the rod 93, to pull the roller 81 down into engagement with the sheet C in the sensing position S, to thereby feed the sheet C under the gate 254 down the chute 262 into the special hopper. Whereupon, during the completion of the cycle of operation of the machine, the feeler finger 209 is actuated through a feeling operation, and the machine is then ready to automatically begin the next cycle of operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by my invention the authenticity and the proper positioning of checks in a sorting machine may be readily determined by photoelectric means in a novel and expeditious manner and the operation may be automatically controlled, as a result of this determination by the photoelectric means, so that the machine will continue to operate normally, be automatically shut off, or pass through a special cycle of operation in accordance with the conditions determined by the photoelectric means.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a machine having a sensing station at which sensing operations may be performed on sheets each bearing a data field including index positions at which positionally coded data representations may be afforded and each bearing a pair of spaced position-determining marks of a color contrasting with the color of adjacent portions of the sheet and disposed in predetermined relation to said data field, sheet feeding means for feeding a sheet out of said sensing station, a normally ineffective sheet rejecting guide member, sensing means comprising an illuminating means adapted to direct light onto said marks at a predetermined angle with respect to the face of a sheet, a pair of photosensitive devices focused individually to receive light reflected from the respective areas to be occupied bythe position-indicating marks on a sheet when such sheet is in a predetermined position at said station, means operable `to energize said illuminating means in each machine cycle after feeding of a sheet into said station, means operable under control of said sensing means to disable said feeding means when neither of the marks of a sheet at said sensing station is detected, and means operable under control of said sensing means when but one such mark is sensed to render said feeding means and said sheet rejecting means effective.

2. In a machine having a sensing station at which sheets each bearing a data eld including index positions at which positionally coded data representations may be aorded and each bearing a plurality of spaced `position-determining indicia in predetermined relation to said data field, may be disposed, sheet feeding means having electrically operated control governing the feeding of such a sheet through such a machine, a plurality of relays, each of said relays having a pair of normally openrcontacts and being adapted upon energization to close said contacts, said pairs of contacts being connected in series with each other, means affording an energizing circuit for said electrically operated means and including said plurality of pairs of contacts in series so as to energize said electrically operated means when said plurality of pairs of contacts are simultaneously closed, a plurality of photoelectric cells operatively associated with the respective relays to govern energization of said relays, means effective to operate said plurality of cells when such a sheet is disposed in said machine with said position-determining indicia in predetermined positions to thereby close said plurality of pairs of contacts and effect a feeding operation of said electrically operated means, and other means including circuits closed upon operation of but one of said relays to render said sheet feedingl means eTectiVa-andsheet directing means rendered effective by said other i means to direct the sheet discharged from said sensing station along a predetermined path.

3. In a machine having a sensing station at which sensing operations may be performed on sheets each bearing a data eld including index positions at which positionally coded data representations may be afforded and each'bearing a pair of spaced position-determining marks, means for feeding a sheet out of said sensing station, a sheet rejecting guide member, sensing means comprising an illuminating means adapted to direct light onto said marksfa pair of photo-sensitive devices focused individually to receive light reflected from the respective areas to be occupied-by the position-indicating marks on a sheet when such sheet is in a predetermined position at said station, means operable under control of said sensing means `to disable said feeding 'means when neither of the marks of a sheet at said sensing station is detected, and means operable under control of said sensing means when but one such mark is sensed to render said feeding means and said sheet rejecting means effective. i

CLYDE SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 4 Date 2,358,051 Broido Q Sept. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 256328 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1927 

